Activation structures in phototherapeutic illumination devices and related methods

Abstract

Illumination devices for directing light on tissue to induce one or more biological effects, and more particularly activation structures in phototherapeutic illumination devices. Activation structures are integrated within phototherapeutic illumination devices and are configured to avoid electrical activation during shipping and/or between uses. Exemplary activation structures include various integrated sensors, such as accelerometers and proximity sensors. Signals from accelerometers may be used to trigger illumination devices to respond to subsequent signals from proximity sensors for beginning treatment. Accelerometers may be inactive or ignored during shipping until initial device charging.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A phototherapy device comprising:
 an array of light-emitting devices;   a control printed circuit board configured to control operation of the array of light-emitting devices;   a first sensor; and   a second sensor, the first sensor configured to provide a first signal that directs the control printed circuit board to respond to a second signal from the second sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The phototherapy device of  claim 1 , wherein the control printed circuit board is configured to electrically activate the array of light-emitting devices based on the second signal. 
     
     
         3 . The phototherapy device of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor comprises an accelerometer, and the second sensor comprises a proximity sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The phototherapy device of  claim 3 , wherein the accelerometer is positioned on the control printed circuit board and the proximity sensor is positioned away from the control printed circuit board. 
     
     
         5 . The phototherapy device of  claim 4 , further comprising a flexible substrate, wherein the control printed circuit board and the proximity sensor are on different portions of the flexible substate. 
     
     
         6 . The phototherapy device of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the flexible substrate comprises a proximal surface and a distal surface that is opposite the proximal surface, the flexible substate being configured for positioning along a scalp of a user such that the proximal surface is closer to the scalp than the distal surface;   the array of light-emitting devices is on the proximal surface;   the control printed circuit board is on the distal surface; and   the proximity sensor is on the proximal surface.   
     
     
         7 . The phototherapy device of  claim 6 , further comprising a light-transmissive layer on the proximal surface of the flexible substrate, the light-transmissive layer configured to transmit at least some light emissions generated by the array of light emitting devices. 
     
     
         8 . The phototherapy device of  claim 1 , further comprising an electronic connection port configured to receive an external power source, wherein the control printed circuit board is configured to ignore the first sensor until after the external power source is connected to the electronic connection port. 
     
     
         9 . The phototherapy device of  claim 1 , wherein the array of light-emitting devices is configured to generate light having a first peak wavelength in a range from 600 nanometers (nm) to 700 nm. 
     
     
         10 . The phototherapy device of  claim 1 , wherein the array of light-emitting devices is configured to generate light having a first peak wavelength in a range from 615 nm to 635 nm and a second peak wavelength in a range from 650 nm to 670 nm. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 detecting a first signal from a first sensor within a phototherapy device;   directing a control printed circuit board within the phototherapy device to respond to a second signal from a second sensor within the phototherapy device after receiving the first signal; and   electrically activating an array of light-emitting devices after receiving the second signal.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising connecting an external power source to charge the phototherapy device, wherein the phototherapy device is in a shipping mode before connecting the external power source, and the phototherapy device is configured to ignore the first sensor and the second sensor during the shipping mode. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein after connecting the external power source, the phototherapy device exits the shipping mode and begins a low power mode that will respond to the first sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein after receiving the first signal during the low power mode, the phototherapy device exits the low power mode and begins monitoring for the second signal for a time period. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising returning to the low power mode if the phototherapy device does not receive the second signal during the time period. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the phototherapy device determines if a previous treatment was ended prematurely as a partial treatment, and resumes the partial treatment after receiving the second signal during the time period. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first sensor comprises an accelerometer, and the second sensor comprises a proximity sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising turning off the array of light-emitting devices in response to an over-temperature condition or an error condition. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the array of light-emitting devices is configured to generate light having a first peak wavelength in a range from 600 nanometers (nm) to 700 nm. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the array of light-emitting devices is configured to generate light having a first peak wavelength in a range from 615 nm to 635 nm and a second peak wavelength in a range from 650 nm to 670 nm.